Grave covering and lining device



July 3, 1928. 1,675,770

G. A. STARK GRAVE COVERING AND LINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWWWWIMMMMmWmMMMMMWMMWMMWMHMM July 3, 1928. 1,675,176 G. A. STARK GRAVE COVERING AND LINING DEVICE Filed Nov.15, 1926 2 sheet -shat 2 Patented July 3, 1928.

, UNITED,STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

i 7 ensure. sums, or Aswan, nmnnsora.

GRAVE covesma AND tfnIne DEVICE.

a plication med Newman 15, 1926*. Serial 170:1482348.

ings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar 1 arts throughout the various views and in w 'ich, I

Fig. 1, is a pjerspcctive view showing the use of one emodirnent of the present invention in connection with-a casket lowering device, having a casket placed thereon in position for lbweringinto a grave,

Fig. 2, is awplanvicwof one embodiment of the invention, as applied on a standard casket lowering device, certain of the parts being: broken away,

Fig. 3, is a vertical section takenon the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, as indicatedby the arrows, certain of" the movable parts being shown in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in another position,

Fig. 4%, a vertical section taken on the finesse-4i of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows, i i

Fig. 5, is a vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the ar rows and, i

Fig. 6, is an enlarged view showing one portion of the-lowering device, certain of" the parts being broken Referring to the drawings, a casket lower inndevice of standard construction is. illus trated including corner posts 7, side shafts 8, end shafts 9, and webbingstraps extend-- ing between the two side shafts tl, the ends of the webbing straps being relcasably sc cured to the shafts 8 by staples 111 andwound upon the shafts; A foot control pedal 12 is used for controlling theloweringofi the device andn crank 13 for winding upi the webbing straps 10- on shafts 8 before or after using the device. Shafts 8 are pref-q crablv composed froln tubing and have removable central sections lt slidably securable in the main sections by pin and socket joints, small keys being formed at each joint t of this invention to proto permit sections 14; and the main sections o f theshafts 8 to rotate as a whole. The lowering device is of substantially rcctan gular shape and is adaptedto be set up and situated over an open grave, whereupon a casket, such as the casket 15, may beplaced on the webbing straps 10 and the foot control per-121112 pressed downwardly to permit the weightof the casket to carry the same downwardly into thejgrave, the shafts 8 rotating towards each other as the casket sinks into the grave.

In accordance with the present invention, a rectangular frame is provided which is adapted to be placed'to reston the ground to surround the lowering device. The frame is of pipe Joint construction and includesthe elbows 16, side sections 17", central side sec tions 18, end sections 19 and end sections Unions 21 secure the side-sections 17to thecentral' side sections 18, the remaining sections being screwed into the elbows 16, the sections 19 and" being slidablyjoined together as at 22 by pin and socket oints Hmksflii having riveted, or otherwise secured thereto at their inner side portions, friction strips 24 composed preferably from somerather hard type of gripping material such as hard rubber, are laced over the shafts 8 adjacent the ends tliereof, hooks 23 being bifurcated at their inner ends and turned inwardly to form half hin e portions. Rods 25 forming portions 0 wings to be hereinafter described, are extended through-the half hinge portions of hooks 23, forming pivots about which the hooks" may be swung, plates 26-being secured to rods 25 between the bifurcated portions of hooks 23. Blocks 27,- having concavely curved outer surfaces conforming preferably to the. curvature of shafts 8, are se cured to plates 26 preferably by means of bolts 28, spacing plates 29 being preferably interposed between the plates 26 and blocks 27 and strips 30, of some soft friction grip ping material such as soft rubber, surrounding the blocks 27 and being secured thereto; bythe bolts 28. The wings above referred to are of substantially IF-shape and are preferably of pipe joi-nt construction con1p1.-'isi'ng elbows 31, ends 32, rods 25, short rods inner side portions 34 slidabl'e by pinand socket jointsupon portions 33, and intermediate side portions 35 connected by unions 36 to side portions 34'. The wings are extended inwardly from hooks 23when in formed from sheets of. flexible material are connected at their outer sides to the end sections 19 of the frame by hooks 38 secured in rings in the shrouds, the shrouds 37 then being extended over the corner posts 7 and shafts 9 of the lowering device to depend downwardly into the open grave. Additional hooks 38, similarly secured to rings in the edges of shrouds 37, may be used for connecting the edges of shrouds 37 to the side sections 17 of the frame. Shrouds 39 are secured at their outer ends by hooks 38 to the side sections 17 and 18 of the frame, the hooks being secured in rings in the shrouds. Shrouds 39 have slits 10 cut therein through which the webbing straps 10 are extended, the shrouds extending over the side shafts 1 1 of the lowering device, over the wings and depending downwardly be tween the inner sides of the respective wings into the grave. Shrouds 39 are also preferably composed from sheets of flexible material similar to the material composing the shrouds 37.

Preferably the various parts of the device will be taken all apart for transportation or storage when not in use. To assemble the device, elbows 16 and sections 17, 18, 19 and 20 are screwed together whereupon sections 20 and 22 may be fitted together to form the rectangular frame. The frame is then placed on the ground innuediately surrounding an open grave, having a casket lowering device placed thereover. Members 25 having hooks 23 secured thereto, and members 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 are then assembled together to form the wings of the device. Hooks 23 are then placed over the shafts 8, the outer portions of the wings being placed beneath the webbing straps l0, whereupon the outer portions of the wings are raised upwardly and the strips 30 of friction material secured to clamping blocks 27, are engaged with the shafts 8 to rigidly secure the wings on the shafts with the wings extending inwardly from the shafts 8 in substantially a horizontal plane. The weight of the wings when horizontally extended will cause hooks 23 and blocks 27 to clamp tightly against the shafts 9 to prevent rotation of the wings in respect to the shafts. Webbing straps 10 of the lowering device are now disconnected at their ends and slipped through slits 40 in shrouds 39, whereupon the ends of the webbing straps are again secured to shafts 8 by clips 11 and wound thereupon. Shrouds 37 are then hooked on the end members 19 and side members 17 of the frame shafts and are run over the end shafts 9 and corner posts to extend downwardly into the open grave. Shrouds 39 are also hooked to the members 17 and 18 of the frame whereupon they are extended over shafts 8 and the wings, to rest upon the wings and depend downwardly between the inner sides of the respective wings into the open grave. The device is now ready for use at a burial ceremony. When the parts are in such position the entire lowering device will be concealed with the exception of the webbing straps 10.

A casket 15 may now be placed upon the webbing straps 10 whereupon the casket may be lowered into the grave. As the foot control pedal 12 of the lowering device is pressed, the weight of the casket 15 will carry the same downwardly into the grave thereby rotating the shafts 8. As the shafts 8 are rotated, the wings will be swung therewith downwardly into the rave until the innor sides ofthe wings wi strike the sides of the grave illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 3, whereupon as downward movement of the casket continues, books 23 will pivot about rods 25 thereby permitting friction strips 30 and blocks 27 to move away from the shafts 8 and permitting shafts 8 to rotate in respect to hooks 23 and the wings. Shrouds 39 will have followed the wings downwardly into the grave and accordingly will hang adjacent the sides of the grave to line the sides thereof. Shrouds 37 will have alread been extended into the grave to line the en 3 thereof. Accordingly the grave will be completely lined and will present an attractive appearance covering up all sight of the offensive bare earth forming the grave wall. The shrouds 37 and 39 may be formed from some attractive material, such as flexible sheeting representing natural grass, or the like, thereby giving a pleasing effect.

If it is desired to use the device of the invention in connection with caskets of smaller sizes, sections 18 may be removed from the frame and members 35 from the wings together with section 14 of the casket lowering device, whereupon the shafts of the lowering device and of the frame and of the wings 'may be shortened to be of proper length for use with smaller caskets. Similarly additional sections may be added to the frame and wings for use with longer caskets. Also if the invention is used in connection with a casket lowering device having shafts 8 of various diameters, strips 29 of various sizes may be used to space blocks 30 closer or farther away from hooks 23 as desired. The construction of the wings and frame may be varied considerably if desired, various types of connections being capable of being used.

Friction strips 2% secured to books 23 are preterably made from some rather hard ma terial, such as hard rubber, so that the shafts 8 may readily rotate after the wings have been lowered without binding on the strips. As strips 30- bear the brunt of the clamping action, they are made of soft material so that there will be no danger of theblocks 27 slipping away from the'shafts 8 until the wings are lowered. Straps 3 0 as they be come worn out may be easily replaced by merely removing bolts 28 and replacing the old straps by new. i 1

The device has been extensively used in actual practice and-has been foundto be vet-y cfficient and attractive. The parts of the device are 'few and ofi simple construction. The device can be readily disassembled and packed in small com ass for removal or stor age. The device 0 the invention may be used with any type of casket lowering device.

it will of course be understood that varions changes may be'made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts Without departing: from the scope of the present invention, which generally stated consists in the matter shown and described and set forthin the appended claims. i A i What I claim is: i r i i 1. In combination, a casket lowering device and flexible means for lining a grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device.

2. In combination, a casket lowering device and flexible means for concealing said lowering device and for lining a grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device. In combination, a casket lowering de vice and flexible shrouds concealing said device and operated thereby to line a grave as a casket is lowered therein by said" device. 4. In combination, a casket lowering device, a continuous flexible casket lowering device cover and grave liner and means for operating said cover-and; liner by said lowering device to move-the same downwardlyinto a grave, to line the same, as a'casket is deposited in the grave by said lowering device. i l a 5. In combination, a casket lowering device adapted to extendover an open grave, flexible means covering said device and. adapted to extend into a grave and means adapted to be operated by said device for causing said first mentionedmeans to line thesides oi the grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device.

6.'In combination, a casket lowering device, a pair of wings extending inwardly from the sides of said device, shrouds fittin over said lowering device and over sai wings and adapted to extend into a grave, andmeans for securing saidwings tosaid lowering device in such manner astoallow said wings to swing downwardly into-a grave as a. casket is deposited therein by said lowering device thereby causing said shrouds to linethe sides of the grave. A

'4 The combination with a casket lowering device having side members adapted to be rotated towards each other. of wings adapted to be releasably secured one to each of said side members, friction lock and release hinges adapted to secure said wings to said" side members and shrouds extending over saidside members and extendingover and supported by said wings, said locks being adapted to hold said wings in rigid connection with said side members, as a casket lowered by said device until said side members have been rotated to permit said wings to strike the sides of a grave, whereupon said locks will be released from rigid ci-igagement with said side members to permit the same to rotate in respect to said wings.

8. In combination a casket lowering device, having side members thereonrotatable towards each other, said casket lowering device being adapted to be placed over anopen grave, wmgs adapted to be respectively see cured to each of said side members, shrouds supported on each wing, each shroudextending over one of said side members, and clamping locks secured to each of said wings and adapted to engage with said respective side members to permit said wings to be swung downwardly into a graveby said side membersyas the same are rota-ted until said wings strike the sides of the grave, where upon said clampinglocks will be released from said side members topermit said wings to discontinue rotation as said side members are further rotated. i

9. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, and including a substantially rectangular frame with side shafts rotatable to wards each other, of flexible sheets adapted to extend over the ends of said frame and into the grave to line the ends of the grave, flexible sheets adapted to extend over the sides of said frame and. into the grave and -means "adapted to. be releasably carried by said rotatable shafts tor supporting said second mentioned sheets to carry the same dowmvardly into: the grave to line. the sides thereof as a casket is lowered: therein by said device,said means bei it releasable from said side shafts, after the sit es of the grave have been lined, to. permit rotation" oli said shafts in respect to: said. means.

10. The combination with a casket lowers ing device, adapted: to be placed over an open grave and including a pair ofside shafts. rotatable towards each other, ofi wings adapted to. bereleasably secured to. each of said shafits, shrouds fitting over said; shafits, resting upon said wings and adapt-ed to e xtond into the. grave, and meansqfionrreleass swung downwardly into the grave until the wings strike the sides of the grave whereupon said means will automatically release from said shafts to permit said shrouds to line the sides of the grave, and to permit said shafts to rotate in respect to said wings.

11. The combination with a casket lowering device, adapted to rest over an open grave, and having side shafts rotatable towards each other, of a frame surrounding said lowering device, wings securable to said shafts to extend inwardly therefrom and adapted to be swung downwardly into a grave by said shafts as acasket is lowered by said device into the grave, shrouds secured at their outer sides to the sides of said frame, supported by said wings and extensible into a rave, and shrouds secured at their outer sides to the ends of said frame and extensible into the grave.

12. The combination with a casketlower ing device,- including a substantialy rectangular frame having shafts on the sides thereof rotatable towards ach other, of a pair of wings extending when idle inwardly from said shafts, the ends of said wings being spaced a short distance from the ends of said frame and means for releasably clamping said wings on said shafts to cause said wings to swing therewith downwardly into the grave, as a casket is lowered by said device, until the wings strike the sides of the grave whereupon said wings will automaticaly unclainp from said shafts, and flexible members resting on said wings and extending downwardly into the grave between the respective wings, said flexible members being adapted to line the sides of the grave as said wings are lowered and flexible members extending over the ends of said frame and downwardly between the ends of said frame and the ends of said wings into the grave, to line the end walls of the grave.

13. The combination with a casket lowering device of general rectangular shape, adapted to rest on the ground over an open grave, and including a pair of rotatable side members, of a frame adapted to rest on the ground around said device, a pair of wings adapted to be respectively secured to the respective rotatable side members of said device, friction clamping locks adapted to secure said wings to said rotatable side members to permit said wings to be swung thereby from an upper position to a straight downward position, whereupon said clamping locks will be released from said side members to permit rotation of said side members in respect to said wings, and flexible sheets secured to said frame and extending inwardly therefrom over said device and wings, said sheets being adapted to extend within the grave to line the sides of the same when said wings are carried to downward position. a r

14. The combination with a casket lowermg device, adapted to be placed over an open grave and having side shafts rotatable towards each other, of hooks fitting over said shafts and extending inwardly there from, wings pivoted to said hooks and having clamping jaws rigid therewith adapted to cooperate with said hooks to frictionally hold said wings engaged with said shafts when said wings are in upward position, and sheets of flexible material extending from over said side members and said wings into the grave, whereupon as a casket is lowered by said device into a grave and said shafts are rotated said wings will be frictionally held by said shafts'to be swung downwardly into the grave, thereby causing said sheets to line the sides of the grave and permitting said clamping jaws to be released from said side members as said wings strike the sides of the grave to allow rotation of said side members in respect to said wings. r

15. The combination with a casket lowering device having side shafts rotatable towards each other, said device being adapted to rest over an open grave, of a. frame surrounding said device, hooks resting over said rotatable side members, wings pivoted to said hooks, and extending inwardly from said side members, said wings having friction engaging surfaces at their outer ends adapt ed to cooperatewith said hooks to clamp against said rotatable side members, and flexible sheets secured to said frame resting over said device and said wings and extending into the grave, said win s being adapted to be carried by said rotata le members and to be swung downwardly into the grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device until said wings strike the sides of the grave, whereupon said sheets will line the sides of the grave, and said friction engaging surfaces of said wings will be disengaged from said rotatable members to permit free rotation of said members in respect to said wings,

16. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device having side shafts rot-at able towards each other, othooks adapted to be placed over said shafts, friction blocks pivoted to said hooks and "adapted to cooperate with said hooks to clamp about said shafts, wings secured to said blocks and normally extending inwardly from i said shafts, the weight of said wings being adapted tovtightly clamp said hooks and blocks against said shafts and flexible sheets extending inwardly over said shafts and supported by said wings, the inner ends of said sheets being extensible into a grave, whereby as a casket is lowered into a grave by said device, said wings will be swingable into the grave as said shafts are rotated until the wings strike the sides of the grave, whereupon said blocks will be swung away from said shafts to permit rotation thereof in respect to said wings.

17. The structure defined in claim 16, and means for spacing said respective hooks and blocks varying distances apart to clamp against shafts of various diameters.

18. The combination with a casket lowering device having opposite rollers adapted to be rotated towards each other, of means adapted to be operated by said rollers to line the walls of a grave as a Casket is lowered therein by said device.

19. The combination with a casket lowering device, of continuous flexible shrouds adapted to conceal the lowering device and to extend into a grave, and means for operating said shrouds from said lowering device to line the walls of the grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device.

20. The combination with a casket lowering device having side rollers ada ted to be rotated towards each other, 0 wings mounted on said rollers adapted to extend over a grave when said device is in idle position and to be swung downwardly into a grave as a casket is lowered into the grave by said device and shrouds extending over said wings and downwardly into the grave, whereby said shrouds will normally conceal said grave, lowering device and wings when said lowering device is in raised position and will line the walls of said grave when said lowering device is in lowered position. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GUSTAF A. STARK. 

